Cameron Highlands, Malaysia

Eat

Though not known as a gourmet destination, eating out in Cameron Highlands is not a problem for most visitors. There are good choices in Tanah Rata and Brinchang including Western, Chinese, Indian and Malay ranging from the local food stalls to restaurants. You can also find a good selection of Chinese foods in Ringlet and Tringkap. With little to do in the evenings, eating out is the practically the only form of night life in Cameron Highlands besides visiting the night markets.

Cost of EatingFor budget eats, go to the stalls and a meal with drinks would cost you around MYR5-6 per person. A meal at a local restaurant would cost you MYR10-15 per person and MYR30-40 for a Western meal at a restaurant in an upscale hotel. Meat and seafood dishes are comparable in price as in the lowlands due to the well-developed road and transport system. With a readily supply of fresh vegetables from the nearby farms, vegetable dishes is a main menu item here.

Food court in Brinchang

Local DiningThe majority of the residents in Cameron Highlands are Chinese and therefore not surprising to find plenty of Chinese restaurants here. Popular are the Chinese steamboat restaurants where you cook you own meals. The usual ingredients include chicken, seafood, meatballs, vegetables, eggs and noodles which are cooked in boiling pot of broth. Cost for a steamboat dinner is MYR15-20 per person. Though far from the sea, Cameron Highlands surprisingly has several Chinese seafood restaurants.

Chinese restaurant in Tanah Rata

If you prefer curry
dishes, then head to the Indian restaurants (curry houses) with several
in Tanah Rata and Brinchang. The Indian restaurants here serve southern
Indian dishes and popular is rice traditionally served on a banana leaf
and complemented with a choice of curry dishes. Another popular Indian
dish is a flat-bread called "nan" and tandoori chicken both cooked in a
kiln. Malay foods are mainly confined to the food court in Brinchang and
stalls along Jalan Besar in Tanah Rata. A popular Malay dish is "nasi
lemak", rice served with cucumbers, anchovies and chilli paste. Another
popular Malay dish is "satay", skewered meat (chicken or beef) barbequed
over a charcoal fire and dipped in peanut sauce.

Tea & SconesThe British colonialist introduced the English tradition of drinking tea and eating freshly baked scones in Cameron Highlands. Today there are several places including local cafes offering tea with scones but only a few places that serve good scones. The best places for scones are the tea shops at Boh Tea Estate, Sungai Palas Estate and Cameron Bharat Plantations. Besides scones, the tea shops also serve a variety of delicious sandwiches and cakes. Besides enjoying a meal at the tea shops, you can also enjoy a scenic view of the tea plantations.